'Walking Dead' Grad Michael Cudlitz to Star in ABC Comedy

The actor has booked the leading role in ABC's untitled Tim Doyle comedy pilot. Set in the 1970s, the single-camera comedy is written and exec produced by Last Man Standing's Doyle and revolves around an Irish-Catholic family with a working-class dad, traditional mom and eight boisterous sons who navigate changes big and small during one of America's most turbulent decades.

Cudlitz will take on the role of the family's patriarch, Mike Doyle. The character is described as a working-class guy with 1950s conservative values who is out of his depth in the early 1970s. The father of eight relies on his church and government to cope with the student protests and discontent over the Vietnam War.

The role marks a departure for Cudlitz, whose credits include TNT's beloved drama Southland and last season's ABC drama pilot The Trustee. Given Cudlitz's comedic performance as Abraham on AMC's Walking Dead, though, a comedy pilot gig for the actor should not be considered a stretch.

Cudlitz is repped by APA, Anonymous Content and Stone Genow.

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